Duraweld named in the Sunday Times' Best Green Companies list

Stationery manufacturer Duraweld has been named in the Sunday Times' Best Green Companies list.

In addition to featuring in the overall list in the third annual edition of publication's awards, it also featured in its Top Ten for having the most environmentally aware employees.

The Sunday newspaper said the company "is clearly practising what it preaches" and that "employees' positive responses to our 61-point questionnaire, which rank it 10th overall on staff engagement on green issues, also show that everyone in the firm thinks green, a 91% positive green score, the eighth highest".

It found that 90% of Duraweld staff were aware that how they were doing their job had a bearing on the environment, the fourth highest score.

Some 85% knew how to reduce their carbon footprint and 76% felt they had the power to influence the company's energy use.

The Sunday Times also said that, in addition to "pioneering the introduction of recycled materials within the industry", Duraweld was the first to offer customers the ability to recycle their old binders.

In the past three years, the company has spent more than £20,000 on initiatives including replacing old skylights with new ones to allow more natural light.

In addition to the Sunday Times honour, Duraweld also scooped one of the top prizes in the Binding Industries Association (BIA) Awards.

Victoria Pitts, Durawelds' Green Team leader, said: "It is very rewarding to have our green initiatives and products recognised by both these organisations and it positions us as being up there amongst the best in employing environmentally friendly business practices.

"Our commitment to protecting the environment remains firm and we will continue to improve and develop both our internal processes and our recycled product ranges."

In the BIA Awards, Duraweld entered a specially designed travel card holder that was made from its own 100% recycled polypropylene.

The company adapted its standard vinyl travel card product using sonic welding instead of a heat sealing manufacturing process, producing wallets which it said were "environmentally and ethically sound, as well as attractive and durable".

Based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Duraweld is ISO 14001 certified and it produces customised presentation, packaging and printed stationery products.